Closure [Second City]

[iamaman_punch]

All that could have been explained had been explained. Not all questions had been answered, but that was the way of magic sometimes - it didn't have to be explained, or it couldn't be explained. Words only went so far. All that was left now was the choice - whether they would stay in this city or return to their own.

But before that...well, there was something to be said for goodbyes.

Comments

[iamaman_punch]

Linkara stuck his hands in his pockets - it was pretty nice here, but he was used to cold weather and the gesture was almost a habit. He knew exactly what choice he was going to make - that was pretty much a no-brainer - but that didn't mean he wanted to head out just yet. He had who-knew-how-long with Vyce to look forward to, after all, and procrastination was a legitimate strategy as far as he was concerned.

Plus, he had a few people to talk with before he went.

[wavesinherheart]

For Aqua, the choice was also very much a given. As nice as this world had been, and as nice as it had been to see Master Eraqus again, as well as a Terra that hadn't been trying to actively kill her, there were still things that needed to be done. She was the only Master she knew of, now. She couldn't run away.

She could, however, afford to spend a moment talking to a few people before leaving. No one had said anything about needing to leave right now, after all.

[iamaman_punch]

They hadn't always entirely agreed, but Linkara had to admit that he did still admire Aqua; there were only so many people he knew that could kick that much ass with a sword, and she was a pretty decent person on top of it, as well as stubborn - she probably had to be to keep Terra in line.

Hands still in his pockets, he walked over and stood next to her. "So. Made your choice yet?" He was pretty sure of the answer, but there were worse ways to start a conversation.

[wavesinherheart]

As he might have been expecting, Aqua nodded at the question. She couldn't deny that Chicago had been a nice enough place, if one could look past the various monsters and other inconveniences. Nor could she deny that it was more than a little tempting to stay and safeguard the people of the city she'd come to at least somewhat understand. But while she could have stayed, there were things that need her at home. She still had to deal with what had become of Terra, after all. She wasn't going to leave him to that fate. Not when she had to believe there was still something of him in the vision she'd been faced with.

"There's still things I need to do back home," she offered, to back up her nod. "It's been nice here, but... I shouldn't ask them to wait any longer."

[hiptobe_eraqus]

One of those was likely Eraqus...although he didn't know if he'd ever see eye to eye with him, at least he appreciated the fighting he had done in the final battle. And it wasn't like he would get this opportunity in the future.

He sighed before speaking. "So. You are returning to your own world?"

[iamaman_punch]

It was an automatic reaction that made Linkara's hand twitch towards the magic gun. He hadn't forgotten the fight they'd had while the fake city crumbled, and there was still a part of him that was wary of the possibility of a rematch. No, thank you.

"Yeah," he replied. "Pretty obvious choice on my end. What about you?" He'd talked with Terra and Aqua, and he knew what the future held for Eraqus; much as it sounded like a casual question, it could never be one.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Eraqus had no interest in fighting Linkara or anyone right now...they'd done what they set out to do, and he didn't see any point in "testing" him for his own reasons or otherwise.

Eraqus could tell just from the tone of voice that Linkara knew about what his future held...it wouldn't surprise him if Terra had told him so awhile back. "Yes," he said slowly. "I am as well." He wasn't sure how to elaborate on that yet, mostly because he didn't want to.

[sailorgenerous]

It wasn't much of a decision, now was it - stay in a city that had never seen a unicorn before, or return to her boutique and her family and her friends in her home. Not very difficult, in Rarity's opinion. She'd be going home soon, and she was looking forward to it.

But she did want to see the friends she'd made here one last time before she went. Friendship was friendship, no matter where or when or with whom it happened. She trotted slowly around the small crowd of people, looking for the ones she knew, the ones she would miss once this was all over.

[wavesinherheart]

Friendship was friendship indeed, and if there was one thing Aqua was going to miss it was the friends she'd made here. She still had a long and difficult road ahead of her, after all, and it would have been nice to have someone at her side.

Of course, that was something that would keep her from her duties at home, since she'd yet to hear that people could come to worlds that weren't the ones they'd come from. Not to mention she wasn't going to ask anyone to give up there own home simply for the sake of her comfort. She could deal with whatever the future held. She had to, now that she was the only active Master she knew of.

But she wasn't in so much of a hurry that she couldn't at least stop to say goodbye to her friends first.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Unlike some of the others in the city, Eraqus had a very good reason to stay in the real Chicago. He knew that if he went back home, it would be straight into facing off against Terra, and then ultimately his own demise and the destruction of his home world. All of it weighed heavily on his thoughts and his heart.

But still, he knew he had to go back. This was a decision that he had made a long time ago, and even now, he decided to stick with it.

At least now he had the opportunity to say farewell to those he cared about, and for that, he was grateful.

[wavesinherheart]

Aqua had known that this was going to be a time of endings. A time of farewells, as people went back to their own worlds. And yet, she wasn't sure she was still willing for that to be the case. She wouldn't say that she hadn't been glad to see Master Eraqus again, but at the same time... it was a bittersweet thing, now. This was the last time she was going to see him and even the time he'd been in Chicago seemed all too short, now.

But she wasn't surprised he was going back too. She wasn't sure any of them really wanted to risk changing the past that badly no matter how much it might have helped Terra. (And that was another conversation she wasn't looking to have, even if she had a bit more experience fighting all sorts of monsters now than she'd had before.)

Still, now wasn't the time to be thinking about Terra and she very carefully and very firmly put those thoughts aside for the moment.

"You're still going?"

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Eraqus knew that this was going to be hard. And yet, knowing it and being grateful for the chance, he still didn't know if he was prepared to say goodbye to his students like this. Especially Aqua...all of the burden of being a Master would now be shouldered onto her, especially with what would happen to Terra and Ventus.

But he still trusted her to see it through...and hoped that the things he'd told Sora and Riku would stick with them, too.

"Yes," he responded, doing his best to keep his voice even. "I believe you understand why."

[wavesinherheart]

Without going back, there was no real way to know if anything they'd learned here was going to stay with them. Aqua was certainly hoping it was - if only for the fact that she had been able to see Master Eraqus one last time - but there simply wasn't any way to know for sure. She'd simply have to make do with what she got, and that sort of uncertainty had become all too familiar a companion of late.

If she was going to be the only one who could carry the future forward, she would. Even it was going to be a hard and lonely job.

"I do," she answered with a nod. "But can you blame me for wishing it could be any other way?"

[hiptobe_eraqus]

"No, I cannot." He sighed.

He could see that she was struggling with this burden, and he didn't blame her. "I believe that you will succeed, Aqua...I know you will succeed. You have the skill, and you have the heart."

Eraqus didn't know how good he was at pep talks, especially in a situation like this, but he hoped it helped her some.

[wavesinherheart]

It helped some, yes, and really Aqua hadn't heard many pep talks. That Master Eraqus was thus willing to at least make the attempt was worth almost more than wht he'd actually said. She might not have any faith in her ability to cope in the long run, not when so very much was still uncertain, but someone did and that was enough. And anyway, she couldn't leave Terra to his fate.

Not after all that she'd finally admitted to Terra.

"I... Thank you. It means a lot to hear you say that."

[hiptobe_eraqus]

This was part of why Eraqus didn't give out 'pep talks' often...he didn't much know how to respond here. It was just a lot simpler to keep up the stoic front at all times. A part of him wanted to give her a hug, but another large part of him was afraid if he did, he wouldn't be able to let go.

He finally managed a small, reassuring smile. "So...stay strong. One day, I believe, we will meet again." That was the funny thing about hearts...even when defeated, or steeped in darkness, they never truly vanished from existence.

[wavesinherheart]

Aqua wouldn't have said no to a hug if it had been offered. She wasn't going to expect one and she wasn't going to initiate one, but she wouldn't entirely have minded if one had happened. Besides, she would have to get used to being strong enough for what was going to be asked of her somehow and this was a decent enough place to start.

"I'll look forward to that day, then."